The tallest U.S. peak outside of Alaska, 14,495-foot Mount Whitney, is seen in the far distance as Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, runs up Whitney Portal Road on his way to win the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, Calif. less

The tallest U.S. peak outside of Alaska, 14,495-foot Mount Whitney, is seen in the far distance as Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, runs up Whitney Portal Road on ... more

A crew member carrying a water spray bottle and a runner endure blowing dust in strong winds near Stovepipe Wells during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. Billed as the toughest footrace in the world, the 36th annual Badwater 135 starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, 280 feet below sea level, where athletes begin a 135-mile non-stop run over three mountain ranges in extreme mid-summer desert heat to finish at 8,350-foot near Mount Whitney for a total cumulative vertical ascent of 13,000 feet. less

A crew member carrying a water spray bottle and a runner endure blowing dust in strong winds near Stovepipe Wells during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley ... more

A crew member carrying a water spray bottle and a runner endure... Photo-4933330.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Jay Smithberger of Granville, Ohio (R) walks toward Mount Whitney, seen in the distance, during the ascent of Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Jay Smithberger of Granville, Ohio (R) walks toward Mount Whitney, seen in the distance, during the ascent of Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, ... more

Ray Sanchez (L) of Sacramento, California runs along highway 136 north of Lake Owens as he approaches the town of Lone Pine during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Ray Sanchez (L) of Sacramento, California runs along highway 136 north of Lake Owens as he approaches the town of Lone Pine during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of ... more

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, who went on to win third place, is cooled during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, who went on to win third place, is cooled during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Photo: David McNew, Getty Images

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, who went on to win third... Photo-4933333.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Runners gather at Badwater Basin for the start of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Runners gather at Badwater Basin for the start of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Runners gather at Badwater Basin for the start of the... Photo-4933334.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Double amputee Chris Moon of the U.K. runs in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Double amputee Chris Moon of the U.K. runs in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Double amputee Chris Moon of the U.K. runs in the AdventureCORPS... Photo-4933335.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Lisa Smith-Blatchen of Driggs, Idaho receives first aid foot maintenance at Panamint Pass as night nears during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. less

Lisa Smith-Blatchen of Driggs, Idaho receives first aid foot maintenance at Panamint Pass as night nears during the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National ... more

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, Carlos Alberto of Portugal and support crew members climb the grade toward Townes Pass during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. less

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, Carlos Alberto of Portugal and support crew members climb the grade toward Townes Pass during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death ... more

Harvey Sweetland Lewis III sprints hard, leaving his support crew behind, toward the finish to take fourth place in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Harvey Sweetland Lewis III sprints hard, leaving his support crew behind, toward the finish to take fourth place in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley ... more

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California is cooled by his crew as he runs in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California is cooled by his crew as he runs in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California is cooled by his crew as he... Photo-4933340.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, reaches the finish line to win the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, reaches the finish line to win the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley ... more

Linda Quirk of Jacksonville, Florida is bent over in back pain, a common condition among the athletes in the event after running 100 miles, as she makes the final ascent up Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Linda Quirk of Jacksonville, Florida is bent over in back pain, a common condition among the athletes in the event after running 100 miles, as she makes the final ascent up Whitney Portal Road to the finish of ... more

Linda Quirk of Jacksonville, Florida is bent over in back pain, a... Photo-4933342.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Dean Karnazes of Ross, California runs stiff with pain as he ascends the last few miles of Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Dean Karnazes of Ross, California runs stiff with pain as he ascends the last few miles of Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of ... more

The Alabama Hills and the town of Lone Pine are seen in the distance as runners ascent Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

The Alabama Hills and the town of Lone Pine are seen in the distance as runners ascent Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death ... more

The Alabama Hills and the town of Lone Pine are seen in the... Photo-4933344.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Grant Maighan of Australia, a first-time competitor in the event, reaches the finish line to take second place in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Grant Maighan of Australia, a first-time competitor in the event, reaches the finish line to take second place in the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley ... more

Grant Maighan of Australia, a first-time competitor in the event,... Photo-4933345.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland is sprayed with water as he runs through the town of Lone Pine after completing more than 100 miles of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland is sprayed with water as he runs through the town of Lone Pine after completing more than 100 miles of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 ... more

David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland is sprayed with water as he... Photo-4933347.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Mount Whitney is seen in the distance (R) as David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland approaches the town of Lone Pine after completing more than 100 miles of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. less

Mount Whitney is seen in the distance (R) as David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland approaches the town of Lone Pine after completing more than 100 miles of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race ... more

Photo: David McNew, Getty Images

Mount Whitney is seen in the distance (R) as David Ploskonka of... Photo-4933348.66630 - San Antonio Express-News

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Dan Marinsik of San Jose, California makes his tenth running of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Dan Marinsik of San Jose, California makes his tenth running of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California.

Sukhee Park of South Korea and other runners are seen among heat waves several miles from the start of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. less

Sukhee Park of South Korea and other runners are seen among heat waves several miles from the start of the AdventureCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, ... more

Photo: David McNew, Getty Images

Sukhee Park of South Korea and other runners are seen among heat... Photo-4933352.66630 - San Antonio Express-News